Georgia Quick Start

What Georgia Quick Start does

Georgia Quick Start is a state government workforce training program established by Georgia legislation in 1967 and operated by the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG). It provides customized, company-specific workforce training at no cost to qualifying companies that are investing in and creating jobs in Georgia, functioning as a discretionary economic development incentive rather than a commercial service. The program operates eight dedicated training facilities across the state, including the Kia Georgia Training Center (West Point, 70,000 sq. ft., opened 2008), the Georgia BioScience Training Center (Social Circle, opened 2015), the Quick Start Advanced Manufacturing Training Center (Pooler, 50,000 sq. ft., opened 2018 with a 20,000-sq.-ft. Phase II expansion completing March 2025), and the Hyundai Mobility Training Center of Georgia (Ellabell, 89,000 sq. ft., opened November 2025). Service capabilities are delivered through an in-house Advanced Manufacturing Technology (AMT) team specializing in robotics, CNC machining, mechatronics, and automation, a Creative Services team producing animations, 3D illustrations, and instructional design, and a Media Services team for video and photography. Its core methodology is a four-phase process: Collaboration, Development, Delivery, and Confidentiality, with a strict IP protection regime for client companies.

The program's revenue model is non-commercial: it is funded through state appropriations to TCSG and provides services free of charge to qualifying companies. Companies are qualified through the Georgia Department of Economic Development and local development authorities as part of broader state incentive packages. Notable clients include Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia (since 2006, producing Sorento, Optima, Telluride, Sportage, and EV9), Pratt & Whitney (since 1980, 45+ year continuous partnership), Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (8,500 jobs by 2031), Takeda Pharmaceuticals (formerly Baxter/Baxalta), Hanwha Qcells, SK Battery America, Walmart, Starbucks, and Toyo Tires. The program has been ranked the No. 1 workforce training program of its type in the U.S. and has served hundreds of companies across automotive, aerospace, bioscience, clean technology, food/beverage, and distribution/fulfillment industries. Its 22 technical college partnerships provide a continuous workforce pipeline that differentiates the program from one-off grant-based incentives offered by competing states.

Name

Georgia Quick Start

Legal name

Georgia Quick Start

Website

https://georgiaquickstart.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1967

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Georgia Quick Start is a state-funded workforce training program that provides customized, company-specific training at no cost to qualifying companies investing and creating jobs in Georgia, serving enterprise manufacturers across automotive, aerospace, bioscience, and clean-technology industries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Workforce Training Services

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Technical and Trade Schools (61151)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Workforce & Career Transition Noncredit Programs (EDAAAEAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Agriculture & Food Production (EDABALAA), Technical Bootcamps & Accelerated Reskilling (Full-time/Part-time) (BPAEANAE), Delivery & Execution (Planning, Estimation, Tracking) (EDABAHAE)

Keywords

• Customized workforce training
• Advanced manufacturing training
• Mechatronics training programs
• Economic development incentives
• Industrial skills training

Headquarters

HQ city

Atlanta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Workforce Training as Economic Development Incentive: Georgia Quick Start is a government-funded, discretionary workforce training program provided at no cost to qualifying companies investing and creating jobs in Georgia. It is funded through the Technical College System of Georgia and state economic development appropriations. No revenue is collected from client companies; the program functions as an incentive to attract and retain business investment in the state.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Georgia Quick Start is a state-funded, discretionary workforce training program that designs and delivers customized, company-specific training to qualifying companies investing and creating jobs in Georgia. Operated by the Technical College System of Georgia, it provides free training through dedicated training centers, on-site delivery, and partnerships with Georgia's technical colleges, supporting advanced manufacturing, automotive, aerospace, bioscience, clean technology, food/beverage, and distribution industries.

Product overview

Georgia Quick Start is a workforce training incentive program operated by the Technical College System of Georgia that provides customized, company-specific training at no cost to qualifying companies investing in Georgia. The program operates multiple regional training centers including the Quick Start Advanced Manufacturing Training Center (Pooler), Georgia BioScience Training Center (Covington), Kia Georgia Training Center (West Point), and the Hyundai Mobility Training Center of Georgia (Ellabell). Key service offerings include the Advanced Manufacturing Technology team, Creative Services, and Media Services. The program has trained workers for major employers including Kia, Hyundai, Pratt & Whitney, Hanwha Qcells, SK Battery America, and numerous other companies across industries including automotive, aerospace, bioscience, clean technology, food/beverage, and distribution.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Georgia Quick Start Workforce Training Program Georgia's top-ranked workforce training program providing customized, company-specific training at no cost to companies investing and creating jobs in Georgia. Operates as a discretionary incentive under the Technical College System of Georgia, supporting industries including automotive, aerospace, bioscience, clean technology, food/beverage, and distribution.
• Quick Start Advanced Manufacturing Training Center (QSAMTC) State-of-the-art 50,000 sq. ft. training facility in Pooler, Georgia equipped with robotics, automation, CNC machining, mechatronics, and control systems training capabilities. Expanded with a 20,000 sq. ft. Phase II addition to support HMGMA supplier training.
• Kia Georgia Training Center (KGTC) 70,000-square-foot training facility in West Point, Georgia serving Kia's first North American manufacturing facility, designed and operated by Quick Start since 2008.
• Georgia BioScience Training Center Training center in Covington/Social Circle, Georgia opened in 2015 to support biomanufacturing companies, including Takeda (formerly Baxter/Baxalta) and other biotech firms requiring GxP, aseptic processing, and quality control training.
• Hyundai Mobility Training Center of Georgia 89,000-square-foot state-of-the-art EV training facility adjacent to HMGMA in Bryan County, featuring STEP Line, IMPACT Line, High Voltage Battery Lab, VR Experience Lab, and Automation & Mechatronics Lab. Capacity for up to 824 trainees, designed to train approximately 8,500 Meta Pros and supplier employees.
• Advanced Manufacturing Technology (AMT) Team In-house team specializing in robotics, CNC machining, mechatronics, and automation training to set industry standards for client companies. Built a first-of-its-kind mechatronics trainer drawing from electrical engineering, software design, robotics, and control systems.
• Creative Services Multi-disciplinary team of instructional designers, graphic designers, animators, and technical illustrators creating customized training materials, job aids, and 3D illustrations for client companies.
• Media Services Full-service photography and videography team capturing training content in challenging environments, traveling domestically and internationally while maintaining strict client confidentiality. Produced high-definition video documentation of Dendreon's biomanufacturing laboratory processes.
• Pratt & Whitney Training Partnership Long-standing customized training partnership since 1980 for Pratt & Whitney's Columbus aircraft engine manufacturing operations, including Columbus Forge and Columbus Engine Center training. Covers jet engine maintenance, precision measurement, and shop math, with Pratt & Whitney mechanics showing higher first-time pass rates on qualification tests.

Quantifiable outcome

• Rinnai employees exceeded first-day production targets by 240% thanks to Quick Start's 96-hour pre-production training
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers32 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Gwinnett Technical CollegecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 27 May 2026Gwinnett Technical College is a long-term training partner for companies in the northern Georgia region. It partnered with Quick Start for Socomec's Suwanee facility, providing ongoing training and a pipeline of qualified graduates. The college has been involved in early training including electrical safety awareness and diagnostic courses.
• Coastal Pines Technical CollegecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 13 January 2026Coastal Pines Technical College partnered with Quick Start and La Regina Atlantica to provide training at La Regina's Alma, Georgia facility. The college will serve as the long-term training partner, providing a pipeline of qualified graduates for ongoing workforce needs.
• Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGeorgia Quick Start is a program of the Technical College System of Georgia. TCSG oversees all 22 of Georgia's technical colleges, which serve as Quick Start's primary partners for delivering training and providing long-term workforce pipelines for client companies. Quick Start is headquartered within TCSG and operates as part of its organizational structure.
• Columbus Technical CollegecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerColumbus Technical College has partnered with Quick Start since the 1980s for Pratt & Whitney training. The college provided training space for Quick Start's training of new hires at Pratt & Whitney's Columbus Engine Center and Columbus Forge, including job-specific training on engine maintenance and safety courses.
• Georgia Northwestern Technical CollegecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGeorgia Northwestern Technical College partnered with Quick Start for Kerry Group's Rome, Georgia facility and for stow Group's Adairsville facility. The college serves as the long-term training partner providing workforce pipelines for these companies.
• Lanier Technical CollegecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLanier Technical College partnered with Quick Start for SK Battery America's Commerce, Georgia gigafactory. Quick Start totally refurbished a satellite campus of Lanier Technical College to accommodate production-scale equipment for training SKBA employees.
• West Georgia Technical CollegecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWest Georgia Technical College has partnered with Quick Start on the Kia Georgia Training Center in West Point, Georgia, providing workforce pipeline support for Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia since 2006.
• Savannah Technical CollegecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSavannah Technical College is a partner for HMGMA workforce training, supporting Quick Start's training operations for the Hyundai Metaplant and affiliated suppliers in the Coastal Empire region.
• Southern Crescent Technical CollegeminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSouthern Crescent Technical College partnered with Quick Start for Gerresheimer's Peachtree City facility, supporting training in safety, lockout/tagout, and quality control since 1993.
• Ogeechee Technical CollegeminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerOgeechee Technical College supports Quick Start's workforce training operations for companies in the Savannah area.
• Oconee Fall Line Technical CollegeminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerOconee Fall Line Technical College supports Quick Start's workforce training operations in the eastern Georgia region.
• Augusta Technical CollegecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAugusta Technical College has been a long-term partner with Quick Start for Starbucks' Augusta soluble coffee plant since its opening in 2013, providing ongoing training support and workforce pipeline through multiple expansions over 8+ years.
• Atlanta Technical CollegeminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAtlanta Technical College partnered with Quick Start for Castellini Food Group's facility in Conley, Georgia, providing workforce training support.
• McKnight Construction CompanyminorOthersMcKnight Construction Company served as the general contractor for the Quick Start Advanced Manufacturing Training Center (QSAMTC) expansion in Pooler. The companies held a 'Topping Off' ceremony in June 2024 marking a major construction milestone for the 20,000-sq.-ft. Phase II expansion.
• Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGDEcD is the state's primary economic development agency that works with Quick Start to qualify companies for workforce training support as part of Georgia's incentive package for attracting new business investment. Local development authorities work with GDEcD and Quick Start to facilitate company partnerships.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Kentucky FAME (Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education): Kentucky's earn-while-you-learn apprenticeship-style manufacturing program that pairs technical college training with employer work rotations. Compares to Quick Start on advanced-manufacturing workforce development in the Southeast, though the model is apprenticeship-based rather than fully customized incumbent training.
• Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development: Tennessee's state economic development agency offers customized recruiting and training services for incoming companies (including the recent Ford BlueOval City and other mega-projects). Regional peer to Quick Start given shared competition for auto and EV investment in the Southeast.
• Florida Incumbent Worker Training Program / Quick Response Training: Florida's state-administered customized training incentive for new and expanding businesses, administered through CareerSource Florida. Comparable in mechanism (state-funded, employer-recruitment-driven) but typically smaller in scale and customized-training depth than Quick Start.

Others

• Year Up: National nonprofit workforce development program providing young adults with corporate training and six-month internships, primarily in IT and business. Comparable mission (bridging employer talent gaps for new-hire populations) but different funding model (philanthropic vs. state appropriation) and target beneficiary.
• National MEP (Manufacturing Extension Partnership): National federally funded network (under NIST) of centers that provide small and mid-sized U.S. manufacturers with consulting, training, and technical assistance. Adjacent because MEP partners frequently co-deliver or substitute for state-level customized training programs for smaller companies that Quick Start does not always serve.
• Per Scholas: National nonprofit offering no-cost IT and software training for adult learners, with corporate hiring partnerships. Comparable to Quick Start only at the conceptual level (workforce training serving employer demand) — substantively different in delivery (IT/salesforce training versus manufacturing) and beneficiary demographics.
• Apprenti: National tech-apprenticeship program that delivers customized training cohorts for corporate clients in IT, cybersecurity, and software fields. Comparable in targeting company-specific cohorts of pre-hires, but focused on technology occupations versus Quick Start's manufacturing/biotech/food concentration.

Direct peers

• South Carolina readySC: South Carolina's no-cost, state-funded customized workforce training program operated through the technical college system for companies locating or expanding in the state. Direct structural peer to Quick Start with identical value proposition — used by BMW, Boeing, Mercedes-Benz Vans, and other major South Carolina employers.
• Alabama Industrial Development Training (AIDT): Alabama's state-funded, no-cost customized workforce training program for companies investing in the state — the closest structural analogue to Georgia Quick Start, with the same model of partnering with Alabama's two-year college system to deliver manufacturer-specific pre-employment and incumbent training.
• Louisiana Economic Development – FastStart: Louisiana's top-ranked customized workforce training program, directly comparable to Georgia Quick Start in that it is state-funded, free to qualifying employers, and delivers company-specific pre-employment and upgrade training for new and expanding facilities — including recent EV and battery plant projects in Louisiana.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@GeorgiaQuickStart
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/georgia-quick-start

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Georgia Quick Start